Our alumni

I felt very privileged to be working in this environment

The skills I gained at Southampton were skills such as aestepic techniques, good labortory practice, great academic acumen with regards to life science, great social skills, analytical skills, time keeping and organisational skills. These skills have been vital in my various occupations.

There was a tremendous choice of units so you could explore different areas. I took optional modules in pharmacology which stood me in good stead later.

Biological Sciences has always been very supportive of my work. And now it’s nice to be able to give something back.

As a degree subject, biology also offers a solid set of transferable skills; it is a science, it has mathematical elements and it also necessitates essay writing.

The fieldwork skills that I gained from my course have been invaluable in the process of developing a career in such a competitive field.

My friends doing dissertations in arts subjects are envious that I’m breaking new ground with my research.

Pharmaceuticals and biotechs offer tremendous opportunities for young scientists.

Ask LOTS of question! You are there to get as much as you can from education, and the start of that journey of learning relies on you asking questions. Take as many opportunities as you can; this will broaden the skills and relationships, which may both be useful in the future.

It’s a fantastic job, I’m getting paid for doing something I really enjoy in a wonderful location in the sun, so I really can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be!

My tutor was always available if I needed to discuss any concerns

We have a really good scientific community at Southampton of specialists working on neurodegenerative diseases and this kind of research is essential for humanity.

My analytical skills developed during my biochemistry course have proved invaluable in my current career as an auditor.

During my PhD I was given many opportunities to present my work to a wide audience – in my job now, I work to communicate complex scientific concepts in a simplified and engaging way to a varied audience – my experience at Southampton and the opportunities I was presented with certainly are a factor in me being successful in my career.

I embarked on both postgraduate studies because I saw the potential they had to take me one step closer to the sort of role I am now working in. They also opened the door to a variety of unanticipated opportunities and experiences which I draw from continually.

The number one thing I would suggest for those looking to go into research in biology-related degrees is to get lab experience outside of your degree. Lab experience will help you stand out during job/ PhD applications.

My final year long-lab project was really valuable, being able to learn about academic research life, and feel like you are actually contributing to a lab groups’ work.

Degrees from an established UK university such as Southampton are always respected in my country. I would advise anyone to study at Southampton.

The totally different thing about studying for a PhD is that you get to spend your whole time in the lab. You have your research question to explore but, of course, the more experiments you do, the more questions you have. Research is fascinating and, perhaps, never-ending.

Teaching at Southampton is research-led, which was a big selling point for me. My course also taught me self-directed learning and time management, skills that are valuable in my job.

I am particularly interested in the interface between food security and biodiversity conservation.

Find what drives you in your subject, and keep that in your heart when studying. It can be dauting at times, and confusing, but know that it is training you to be a great scientist. With that skill, you can get anywhere you want.

The choice of optional modules was an alluring aspect that separated Southampton from other universities as it gives you some control over the direction of your studies. As a member of the Biological Sciences Society, I felt part of a cohesive and approachable community which made my transition into university life easy

As well as my degree, the university helped me find what I want to do as a career and gave me the tools and opportunities to do it.

I’m a firm believer that the future of conservation lies in youth… empowering themselves to make change happen.

I had exposure to cutting edge research, flexibility to shape my degree to fit my interests, fantastic lecturers and a world class department building.

The University makes sure to support its students and I feel I really benefited from having an approachable personal tutor who helped me pursue my interests by guiding me towards opportunities. Also, the immense variation in terms of module topics which are available allowed me to study areas which appealed to me and also allow for flexibility without compromising academic rigor.

For my PhD at Southampton, I was trying to understand how brain cells die in dementia by studying a particular part of the cell which we believe gets damaged as people age.

My subject knowledge also helped me gain a place on a Masters course and most recently has helped me secure a position at the BBC’s Natural History Unit

It's hard to believe when I walked into Southampton as a student, I would remain there for my career. But I've always enjoyed teaching and talking with students. It was an excellent career choice.